CWEL News & Publicity

Building off the success of our first three workshops, we are excited to announce that the fourth Utah Growing Water Smart (GWS) workshop will be held May 14-16, 2024 at Utah State University in Logan.

USU Extension’s Water Check Program recently teamed up with researchers from the Utah Water Research Laboratory to investigate how to help make the program more effective.

Where to find low-water turf seed or sod in the Salt Lake area. When using this seed or sod, remember to reprogram your sprinkler controller to save water.

CWEL coordinator Susan Buffler and research technician Paul Harris staff the mini poster session table at the recent USU Extension Conference held in Logan, UT.

Building off the success of our inaugural November workshop, we are excited to announce that the second Utah Growing Water Smart (GWS) workshop will be held June 6th-8th at Utah State University in Logan.

Announcing the first Growing Water Smart workshop held November 15-17, 2022.

The Great Salt Lake is integral to Utah's ecosystem, and the health of the lake has impacts on much of Utah, the economy, and our quality of life. Featuring Dr. Joanna Endter-Wada, this USU Research Landscapes event looked at one of the top land, water, a...

Presented in recognition of excellence in Extension teaching activities in crop science based on educational innovations developed and used successfully in crop science as evidenced by demonstrated ability to communicate ideas clearly, influence client at...

How do we make turfgrasses more efficient and conserve water? Is all turfgrass bad? Who is affected in the turf industry? Do turfgrasses improve and get "updates" like your smartphone? Well, we answer these questions and more in this episode! We also tou...

How do we make turf grasses more efficient and conserve water? Is all turf grass bad? Who is affected in the turf industry? Do turf grasses improve and get "updates" like your smartphone? Well, we answer these questions and more on this episode! We als

Read about the new SLC Turf Trade grass mix. September, 2022 SLC's drought-tolerant turf is such a hit, that other communities in Utah want some.

The American Society of Horticulture Science (ASHS), recognized worldwide as a leading organization for horticulture science and technology, recently honored Utah State University Assistant Professor Youping Sun with its Early Career Achievement Award pri...

Dr. Kelly Kopp discusses the idea of net zero turf toward the end of this podcase episode.

Managing water is not easy, especially when trying to do more with less. Landscape water use is being prioritized for municipal water conservation because landscaping uses a majority of culinary water, is directly served by pressurized secondary irrigatio...

“I spend a lot of my time worrying, frankly, and being concerned about our current situation,” says Kelly Kopp, a water conservation specialist and professor at Utah State University. “We should have been thinking about this more carefully decades ago.”

Dr. Poudyal joined CWEL and USU's Plants, Soils and Climate Department in August of 2021. Dr. Poudyal’s research focuses on developing sustainable management practices for landscape and nursery plants, emphasizing water conservation. He aims to evaluate a...

CWEL director, Dr. Kelly Kopp, met with Governor Cox and team, President Cockett, and other members of the faculty to discuss the upcoming inaugural report from USU’s Institute for Land, Water and Air.

The goal of Youping Sun’s research is to generate practical information for water conservation in the Green Industry – urban landscape management and nursery plant production.

Congratulations to PSC and CWEL Masters student Ji Jhong Chen for being selected as one of the ten 2021 American Society of Horticultural Science Outstanding Graduate Students and finalist for the Robins Award, Masters Student Researcher of the Year!

WERA-1013 is an officially recognized Western Education/Extension and Research Activity designed to enhance the introduction and evaluation of native plants and to provide education concerning their use and propagation. The people involved make up a worki...

CWEL’s Kelly Kopp took part in a question-and-answer session held as part of USU Research Landscapes on March 2, 2021.

Twelve Bigtooth maples were donated by the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping and planted at the Denzil Stewart Nature Park on Saturday, October 30th, 2020.

CWEL Director Kelly Kopp discusses the use of water-wise ornamental grasses for wildlife habitat on National Public Radio's Wild About Utah program. Grasses are important plants that provide both food and cover for birds and other wildlife. They also prov...

CWEL Director Kelly Kopp (second from left in back) participated in a trip to the Philippines in order to learn more about Extension abroad and make connections with program administrators, practitioners and academics in the field.

Recent CWEL graduate student Shane Evans publishes More “Pop” Per Drop: Smart Irrigation in the Landscape Business and the SportsField Management trade journals. Shane recently took a position as Lawn Water Conservation Educator in the Department of Horti...

This free program is available in many locations throughout the state including Cache, Iron, Washington, Davis, Weber, Morgan, and Summit Counties.

The Career Specialist Award is the most prestigious award that the USU Extension Specialist Association can bestow on an individual. In January of 2020 Dr. Larry Rupp was honored with this award at the annual Utah Extension Conference.

CWEL and Utah State University doctoral student Paige Boyle, Clint Mattox (Oregon State) and Timothy Lulis (The Pennsylvania State University) are being recognized as Watson Fellows with a $5,000 award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of A...

The Utah GCSA received a $10,000 BMP grant that GCSAA funded through the association’s Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) in part by PGA Tour. The BMP grant program provides funding through the EIFG to chapters for developing new guides, updating exi...

Read the results of the Water Use Assessment Report.

Too often, we try to re-create landscapes based on nostalgia and expectations that don’t match our actual water availability and climate. Bridger Varga, landscape manager at Wasatch Academy, has worked to create and maintain a school landscape in rural U...

This books aims to give homeowners and designers the confidence to create beautiful, low-water landscapes by showing them examples of plant combinations that have been successful in low-water gardens throughout the Intermountain West.

Eagle Mountain City is now home to two highly advanced weather stations paid for and maintained by Utah State University. These two stations, located near the Rodeo Grounds and Nolen Park will collect very precise weather data for the City of Eagle Mount...

The Center for Water Efficient Landscaping has joined a nation-wide research study evaluating the social, economic, and environmental barriers and benefits of transitioning from high input to low input grasses. The goal is to understand how different camp...

Dr. Joanna Endter-Wada received the 2018 Award for Outstanding Service in the Academic Sector from the American Water Resources Association Utah Section. The award was presented at the section’s 46th Annual Water Resources Conference, which was held in Sa...

Ms. Paige Boyle, recently admitted to USU as a Center for Water Efficient Landscaping Fellow, has also earned a Presidential Doctoral Research Fellowship from the university. Dr. Kelly Kopp is her Ph.D. advisor.

CWEL presents multiple talks at the 2018 Utah Green Industry Conference in Sandy, Utah. Talks included Kelly Kopp's New Turf Varieties for Low Water'.

Horticulturist Dr. Larry Rupp is always on the lookout for promising plants for the low-water landscape. The latest four covers of Native Plants Journal showcase pictures of plants from his travels and attention to plants in their native habitats. As th

Another great year at Water Smart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas! Dr. Joanna Endter-Wada presented her study with Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Metering Non-Potable Water: 5 -Year Study of Urban Irrigation Efficiency. Dr. Paul Johnson pre

Selection and Propagation of Native Woody Plants for the Intermountain Area Larry Rupp discusses selecting native trees and shrubs for low water landscapes with USU Extension Forestry’s monthly webinar series.

Utah Water Conservation Forum held their annual Spring Conference on May 5th and 6th 2016. Professionals, scientists, conservation specialists and others working to create a sustainable water future met to discuss outreach, education, research and incent...

Necrotic ring spot (Ophiosphaerella korrae) is the most commonly diagnosed fungal turfgrass disease by the Utah State University Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. CWEL’s Kelly Kopp and Paul Harris release a research report evaluating Ring to GREEN product...

What motivates homeowners to adopt water-efficient landscape designs and irrigation practices? What obstacles must irrigation professionals and water providers overcome to encourage more water-efficient choices? This webinar looks to answer those question...

Kelly Kopp joins the Bringing Water to Life podcast

M.S. or Ph.D. research assistantships available to study urban landscapes and urban water management. The Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (CWEL) at Utah State University is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to research and extension programs s...

‘Smart’ irrigation controllers monitor the local environment to determine how much water is necessary to sufficiently water the landscape without wasting water. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District offers rebate for homeowners to install.

The Slow the Flow Water Check Program is in full swing along the Wasatch Front offering free irrigation efficiency assessments. A considerable amount of water can be saved through efficient irrigation as a typical Utah homeowner applies twice as much wat...

Want to learn how to save water in your yard? Join speakers from USU's Center for Water Efficient Landscaping in Logan City’s Green Futures Learning Series. Turfgrass Specialist Kelly Kopp (USU Professor/Extension Water Conservation), Joanna Endter-Wada (...

Climate, Drought and Water Conservation Workshops for Northern Utah Water Agencies, a collaboration of Utah State University Extension, Center For Water Efficient Landscaping, Wasatch Dendroclimatology Research (WaDR) Group, USFS, BYU, and Western Water A...

USU student Shawn Foster presents research on Capitol Hill in Utah in January 2016. His poster, titled 'Water Use of Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties' evaluates bluegrass varieties to find more water-efficient varieties that may result in less irrigation, ye...

CWEL presents multiple talks at the 2016 Utah Green Industry Conference in Sandy, Utah. Talks included 'Weeds in the New Low-water Landscape' with Larry Rupp, 'Combinations for Conservation' with Adrea Wheaton, Larry Rupp and Bill Varga, and 'Landscape W...

CWEL faculty Larry Rupp and Kelly Kopp were among the instructors of a Qualified Water Efficient Landscapers (QWEL) course taught to a record number of attendees at the Conservation Garden Park.

Roger Kjelgren and Diana T. Glenn present urban water conservation research at American Water Works Intermountain Section conference in Logan, Utah

CWEL received an Award of Excellence from the Western Extension Directors Association for outstanding accomplishments, results and impacts in addressing contemporary issues in the West.

USU's Extension video highlights the important water issues going on in our state and shows how Extension at USU is working to address them.

Kelly Kopp, USU Extension Turfgrass specialist, talks with Bryan Earl and Zesty Garden on Utah Public Radio. Learn how you can do more with less as Kelly talks about low-water turf varieties, scheduling irrigation, and the realities of water conservation ...

Joanna Endter-Wada explains interconnectedness of water issues and policies in arid Utah. Choices and decisions need to be made regarding our water needs and wants, regardless of the difficulty